William Hudson (engineer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Hudson
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William Hudson
27 April 1896 Nelson, New Zealand
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| Died | 12 September 1978 (aged 82) Red Hill, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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| Known for | Snowy Mountains Scheme |
| Awards | James Cook Medal (1966) |
| Relatives | James Hudson (father) John Andrew (grandfather) |
Sir William Hudson (born April 27, 1896 – died September 12, 1978) was a very important engineer. He was born in New Zealand. Sir William is best known for leading the huge Snowy Mountains Scheme in Australia. This project built dams and tunnels to create electricity and bring water to farms. He led this amazing project from 1949 to 1967. The whole scheme was finished in 1974, even earlier than planned and without going over budget!
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Hudson was born in Nelson, New Zealand. His father was James Hudson. William went to Nelson College from 1908 to 1914. He then studied engineering at the University of London and the University of Grenoble in France.
Building a Career in Engineering
Sir William Hudson had a long and busy career in engineering. He worked on many big projects around the world.
Early Projects and Experience
- He served in the British Army in France for three years.
- He worked for a company called Armstrong Whitworth & Co.
- From 1922 to 1924, he was an assistant engineer on the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme in New Zealand.
- He then became the engineer-in-charge at the Arapuni Power Station in New Zealand (1924–1927).
- He worked on more dams in New Zealand between 1928 and 1930.
- From 1931 to 1937, he was part of the Galloway hydro-electric scheme in Scotland.
- Later, he moved to Australia. He was the resident engineer for the Woronora Dam in Sydney.
- He also became the chief construction engineer for the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board in Sydney.
Leading the Snowy Mountains Scheme
In 1948, a huge job came up in Australia. It was to lead the Snowy Mountains Scheme. This project was designed to use water from the Snowy Mountains to make electricity and provide water for farming. William Hudson applied for the job as chairman of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electricity Authority (SMHEA).
The Prime Minister at the time, Ben Chifley, was looking for the best person. The minister in charge, Nelson Lemmon, strongly recommended Hudson. He simply wrote "Hudson, Hudson, Hudson!" to the Prime Minister. Because of his skills and experience, William Hudson got the job.
He was honored for his great work. In 1955, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). This meant he could be called "Sir William Hudson." In 1964, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very important group for scientists. He also received the James Cook Medal in 1966.
Sir William Hudson retired in 1967 when he was 71 years old. After retiring, he continued to work for public safety. He became the president of the National Safety Council of Australia. He also chaired the Road Safety Council in New South Wales.
Images for kids
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A plaque honoring Sir William Hudson at the Cooma Visitors Centre.
